• Walk through the house with your parent, not for them. Ask what feels hard, and watch how they move.
  • Fix the highest-risk places first: the bathroom, the path they walk at night, and the stairs.
  • Most of the best changes cost little, like lighting, grab bars, and clearing clutter.
  • If you're unsure, an occupational therapist's home safety evaluation is the gold standard.

How to use this checklist

Pick a time when neither of you is rushed. Walk through each room together, and ask simple questions: What's hard here? Where do you hold on? What do you avoid? You'll learn more from watching your parent get up from a chair or step into the shower than from any list, including this one.

Tick off what's already fine, note what isn't, and start with the bathroom and the nighttime path. That's where many falls happen.

Entry, hallways, and stairs

  • Bright lighting at every entrance, and switches at both the top and bottom of stairs
  • Sturdy handrails on both sides of every staircase
  • No loose rugs, and no cords across walkways
  • Clear, wide paths with no furniture to squeeze past
  • A place to sit near the door for putting on shoes

Bathroom

  • Anchored grab bars by the toilet and at the tub or shower entry
  • Non-slip treads or a mat in the tub, and a non-slip rug outside it
  • A shower chair or transfer bench, and a handheld shower
  • A raised toilet seat or safety frame if getting up is hard
  • Full details: bathroom safety for aging parents

Bedroom

  • Motion-sensor lighting from the bed to the bathroom
  • A bed height where their feet rest flat on the floor
  • A phone and a light within reach of the bed
  • Full details: preventing nighttime falls

Kitchen

  • Everyday items stored between hip and shoulder height
  • A reacher for anything higher or lower, and no climbing on chairs
  • Stove safety measures if memory is a concern
  • Full details: kitchen safety when a parent has dementia

If arthritis or a weak grip makes cooking frustrating, two small tools help a lot: an opener mounted under a cabinet, which holds the jar so they only have to twist, and utensils with wide, easy-to-grip handles.

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EZ Off Under-Cabinet Jar Opener

Mounted under a cabinet, it grips the lid so your parent can open jars with a one-handed twist.

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Special Supplies Adaptive Utensils, 4-Piece Wide-Grip Set

Wide, ribbed non-slip handles make everyday utensils easier to hold for hands with a weak grip.

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Getting dressed

Bending to put on socks and shoes is a balance challenge, and a common moment for a fall. Dressing seated helps, and a few simple tools remove the bending altogether: a sock aid, a long-handled shoehorn, and a leg lifter for getting stiff legs into bed.

Getting around

If your parent is holding onto furniture or walls to walk, it may be time for a mobility aid. Our guide to choosing a walker or rollator explains the difference.

If your parent has dementia

  • A clock that spells out the day and the date, not just the time, helps with orientation, especially after a nap.
  • A bed exit alarm alerts you when they start to get up at night, so you can help. It doesn't prevent falls on its own; what it gives you is time to get there.
  • Keep routines familiar and label cupboards. Our kitchen guide covers the stove and medications.
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American Lifetime 8-Inch Day Clock with Date and Alarms

Spells out the time, weekday, date, and part of the day in plain words to help your parent stay oriented.

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Smart Caregiver Bed Exit Alarm with Wireless Pager

A pad under the sheet signals your pager when your parent starts getting up, so you can come help.

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Staying connected in an emergency

  • Keep a phone within reach in the rooms they use most
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
  • Consider a medical alert device if they live alone. Browse medical alert options to compare.
  • Post emergency numbers and their medication list somewhere easy to find

When to bring in a professional

An occupational therapist can do a home safety evaluation, watching how your parent actually moves through their home and recommending specific changes. Ask their doctor for a referral. Insurance or Medicare may cover it in some situations, especially after a fall or hospital stay.